But ahead of Albion's visit to Chelsea on Wednesday, Baggies boss Pulis insisted: “I think there have been discussions.

“How far the discussions have gone I am not sure. But I wouldn’t be worried if I was James, I wouldn’t be worried if I was one of the ones who are talking to the club now.

“I think we have four or five people talking to the club about contracts now at the moment, it is not just James.

“It is an incentive for the club and an incentive for the players. For me, as a player, I never had a worry about trying to sign a long-term contract.

Have faith: Striker Anichebe will also be out of contract (Image: Jan Kruger)

“Generally, I was quite happy to run the contract out and if the club wanted me they would give me another one.

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“If they didn’t, I was always confident there would be another club out there who would give me a contract. That kept me going and you are almost bloody-minded in respect of saying: ‘well I will wait if you are prepared to wait’ and that is the way it used to be.

“But players now want stability and security and all that stuff, it has changed so much it is unbelievable.”